U.S. approves visa for Ahmadinejad to speak at UN

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/U_S_approves_visa_for_Ahmadinejad_to_speak_at_UN.html?siteSect=143&sid=7636875&cKey=1174356461000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has approved a visa for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to enable him to address the U.N. Security Council over Tehran's nuclear program, the U.S. State Department said on Monday.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States had so far approved visas for 39 Iranian officials -- 13 diplomats and 26 security guards. He said Iran requested visas on Monday for 33 air crew members that were being processed.

"We are not going to be in any way hindering the ability of President Ahmadinejad to appear before the Security Council," the spokesman told reporters.

The United States is at loggerheads with Iran over its nuclear program and Ahmadinejad wants to address the Security Council in New York before it votes on a resolution imposing new arms and financial sanctions against Tehran.